Means for effecting distant control



y 1934. J. L. STABLEFORD MEANS FOR EFFECTING DISTANT CONTROL Filed Dec.30. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l I I l I I l I L INVENTOR John L. Stablefoz-dATTORNEY May 8, 1934.

J. L. STABLEFORD MEANS FOR EFFECTING DISTANT CONTROL Filed Dec. 50, 19312 Sheets-Sheet 2 21\. I Z 3 g j] x i8 2 9 o O 6 13 -?Z I:

J 1% E o 7 4 1 /2 2 3 INVENTOR 4 J hn I Stableford ATTORNEY Patented May8, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFECE Application December 30, 1931,Serial No. 583,996 In Great Britain January 2, 1931 6 Claims.

This invention relates to means for effecting distant control ofapparatus wherein it is desired to effect movement instantaneously withthe movement of a device or mechanism actuated directly by an operatorand the invention has for its object to provide improved non-electricalmeans for this purpose.

The invention has a particular application to cinematograph projectionapparatus for ensuring 1O simultaneous opening of the shutter of oneprojecting machine and closing of the shutter of another projectingmachine when one reel mounted in one of such machines is exhausted andthe succeeding reel mounted in the other of such machines is to beprojected. By means of this invention the expense of installation andthe uncertainty of operation of electrical synchronizing mechanism canbe avoided.

It is also an object of the invention to provide instantaneouslyoperating device which, al-

though actuated manually, is not dependent for its speed of operation onthe speed of movement at which the manual operation takes place.

The invention consists in an arrangement for effecting instantaneousmovement of an apparatus or device under distant control or of tworemotely situated devices adapted to be operated the one from the otherand includes means of an entirely mechanical character capable ofactuation manually to transmit movement between two points by a flexiblemechanical operated connection.

In carrying the invention into eiiect according to the preferred formand as applied to oppositely moving shutters for two cinematographprojection machines, each of the shutters is provided with a quickaction operating mechanism, and a flexible mechanical connection isprovided between the operating mechanism and one or more manual controlelements in such a way that movement of the manual control elements orany one of them in a direction to open one of the shutters causessimultaneous closing of the other shutter.

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a pair of oppositely moving shuttersfitted with control mechanism embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of one of the shutters shown in Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of one of the shutters equipped with aslightly modified form of control mechanism, and

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the shutter and modified form ofcontrol mechanism shown in Fig. 3.

As shown in the drawings, each of the two shutters comprises arectangular frame 1 and a pair of rectangular shutter plates 2 which arehinged at the upper and lower edges of the rectangular aperture providedby the frame 1 and are movable from the open position shown at the lefthand side of Fig. 1 to a closed position in which the plates 2completely close the aperture, as shown at the right hand side of Fig.1.

Each of the shutter plates 2 is carried on a rock shaft which isjournalled in the frame 1 and each of the rock shafts has one endprojecting through one end of the frame 1 and carrying a short lever arm4 by which the shaft is rocked to effect the opening and closingmogvements of the shutter.

Each of the lever arms 4 is connected by a link 5 to a pivoted lever 6which is fulcrumed between its ends on the frame approximately mid-waybetween the shafts 3, the arrangement being sucli that movement of thelever 6 in one direction closes the shutter plates 2, whilst movement ofthe lever 6 in the opposite direction opens them.

One end of the lever 6 is connected by a spring '7 to a lever 8 carriedon a rock shaft 9 which is journalled in a bracket 10 carried by theframe 1 and which may be manually rocked by a handle 11 also carriedthereby.

The rocking movement of the lever 8 is limited by abutments 12 formed onthe bracket 10 and the lever 8 is so mounted relatively to the lever 6that, as it moves from one extreme position to the other, it passesthrough an intermediate position in which the connection between thespring 7 and the lever B is approximately aligned with the fulcrum 13 ofthe lever 6. By this arrangement a quick action of the shutters isobtained due to the action of the spring 7 when the connection 9 betweenthe spring 7 and the lever 6 crosses a line intersecting the ends of thespring '7 and the fulcrum of the latter lever.

In order to cause the shutters to operate simultaneously the handcontrol elements are connected together by a flexible mechanicalconnection. As shown in the drawings the flexible mechanical connectionmay be in the form of a Bowden cable 14, the two ends of the cable 14being connected to the levers 8, whilst the two ends of the sheath 15,through which the cable 14 extends, are adjustably secured to brackets1G formed on the frames 1.

Each of the levers 8 is also connected to one end of a tension spring17, whose other end is connected to a bracket 18 formed on the frame 1,the purpose of the springs 17 being to tension the cable 14 and topermit the cable to transmit movement to the levers 8 in eitherdirection.

The frames 1 are fitted with screw holes or other means of attachment tothe projectors with which the device is used.

In operation, either of the shutters can be opened or closed by apartial rotation in the appropriate direction of the lever 8 associatedtherewith, and owing to the Bowden cable connection between the levers8, movement of either of the handles 11 in a direction to close onshutter moves the other handle in a direction to open the other shutterand vice versa, so that the shutters are always oppositely moved.

As either of the levers 8 moves in the direction to open or close thecorresponding shutter, the spring '7 is stretched and, when the point ofcone nection thereof with the associated shutter actuating lever 6crosses a line which intersects the ends of said spring and the fulcrumof such lever 6, the latter lever is rocked in a direction to open orclose the shutter associated therewith. As soon as the tension of thespring '7 becomes sufficient to overcome the initial resistance tomovement of the shutter, the spring contracts and quickly closes oropens the shutter. In this way a quick opening or closing movement ofthe shutters is obtained which does not depend upon the speed ofmovement of the hand lever.

' It will be seen that the'flexible Bowden cable enables the twoshuttersto be mounted in any required positions within the limits set by thelength of the cable. Moreover, although the ends of the Bowden sheathare, shown as attached to lugs 16 at the lower ends of the frames 1,whilst the ends of the spring 17 are attached to the lugs 18 at theupper ends of the frames 1, the position of these elements could bereversed if required so as to enable the cable to lead to the upper endsinstead of to the lower ends of the shutterframes, when this is moreconvenient. As shown in the drawings each of the handles 11 is disposedat the right hand side of the shutter frame 1 with which it isassociated as this is usually the most convenient position, but thesehandles could be made to stand at the left hand sides of the shutterframes if required. This may be effected by fixing the shutter frames inthe reverse position, that is to say, by rotating them through the angleof 180 in the plane of the shutters.

It will be noticed that the lever arms 4 carried by each frame 1 bothproject away from the back face 19 of each frame 1 so that the rockshafts 3 carry no parts which project towards that face. This enablesthe shutter plates 2 carried by each of the frames 1 to be placed closeto the back face 19 of such frame, so that the shutter plates lie closeto the wall, screen or other support to which the shutter frame isattached.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exactmechanical arrangement described for operating the shutters as this maybe varied to a large extent without departing from the invention. Forexample, the members or plates 2 of each co-operating pair of shuttersmay be provided each with two links or arms 20 and21 mounted on theirpivots or shafts 3, these links or arms being connected by crossedlevers 22 and 23, as shownin Figures 3 and 4, one of which levers isoperated manually by longitudinal movement, the action being aided by aspring connecting their outer ends; In this: con- 3 of each cooperatingpair of shutter plates are 7 connected, respectively, to the oppositeends of the lever 23, and the arms 20 are connected, respectively, tothe opposite ends of the lever 22 which crosses the lever 23. A spring25, extending between the outer ends of the levers 20 and 21 associatedwith one of the shutter plates 2, tends to draw said ends together.

In the operation of this modified form of the invention, either of theshutters can be opened or closed by longitudinal movement, in theappropriate direction, of the lever 22 associated therewith, and owingto the Bowden cable connection between the levers 22 of the twoshutters, movement of the handle 24 associated with either shutter in adirection to close such shutter will move the other handle in adirection to open the other shutter and vice versa, so that the shuttersare always moved. When one of the levers 22 and '23 are pulled upwardlythe arms 20 are rocked upwardly into the'positions shown in Figure 3,the spring 25 will pull the arms 21 into the positions shown, thusmoving the shutter plates 2 into the open position, as shown in saidfigure. When the lever 22 is moved downwardly, the arms 20 are rockeddownwardly, thus placing the spring 25 under tension and, as soon as thearms 20 pass the dead centre position in relation to the arms 21, thetension of the spring 25 causes the arms 21 to rock downwardly, therebymoving the shutter plates 2 into closed position. Thus when the lever 22is moved in a direction to open or close the shuter plates 2 the spring25 is first placed under tension and, then when the dead centre positionhas been passed, quickly moves the shutter plates into closed position.Proper cooperation of two oppositely moving shutters is ensured byconnecting the levers 22 of the two oppositely moving shutters by theBowden cable 14' in such a way that movement of the handle 24 of oneshutter in a direction to close the shutterplates .2 of same causes amovement of the handle 24 of the other shutter in a direction to openthe shutter plates 2 of the latter. The springs 17 tension the Bowdencable 14 to permit said cable to transmit movement to the levers 22 ineitherdirection.

The invention possesses the advantage that it can be assembled as aready synchronized unit and applied to existing cinematograph projectionmachines, the provision for adjustment at the ends of the Bowden wireensuring exact synchronism of operation after the device has beeninstalled.

1. Operating means for moving the shutter of one cinematograph machinein one direction when the shutter of another cinematograph machine ismoved in the opposite direction, said means comprising an actuatinglever for the shutter of each machine, an operating lever fulcrumedadjacent each of said'shutter-actuating levers to rock on an axisparallel to that of the latter, a spring extending between each of saidoperating levers and its associated shutter actuating lever, each ofsaid springs being tensioned by the rocking movement of the operatinglever to which it is connected and acting to rock" the shutter actuatinglever associated therewith when its end connected to suchshutter-actuating lever crosses a line intersecting its ends and thefulcrum of such actuating lever, and means between said operating leversand operative when either of said operating levers is rocked in onedirection to rock the other operating lever in the opposite direction.

2. Operating means for moving the shutter of the cinematograph machinein one direction when the shutter of another cinematograph machine ismoved in the opposite direction, said means comprising an actuatinglever for the shutter of each machine, an operating lever fulcrumedadjacent each of said shutteractuating levers to rock on an axisparallel to that of the latter, a spring extending between each of saidoperating levers and its associated shutter actuating lever, each ofsaid springs being tensioned by the rocking movement of the operatinglever to which it is connected and acting to rock the shutter-actuatinglever associated therewith when its end connected to such shutter-actuating lever crosses a line intersecting its ends and the fulcrum of suchactuating lever, and flexible means connecting corresponding parts ofoperating levers, said flexible connecting means being operative, wheneither of said operating levers is rocked in one direction, to rock theother opera-ting lever in the opposite direction.

3. Operating means for moving the shutters of a pair of cinematographmachines in opposite directions according to claim 2 including means formaintaining the flexible means between the operating levers undertension.

4. Operating means for moving the shutter of the cinematograph machinein one direction when the shutter of another cinematograph machine ismoved in the opposite direction, said means comprising an actuatinglever for the shutter of each machine, an operating lever fulcrumedadjacent each of said shutter-actuating levers to rock on an axisparallel to that of the latter, a spring extending between each of saidoperating levers and its associated shutter actuating lever, each ofsaid springs being tensioned by the rocking movement of the operatinglever to which it is connected and acting to rock the shutter-actuatinglever associated therewith when its end connected to suchshutter-actuating lever crosses a line intersecting its ends and thefulcrum of such actuating lever, and a Bowden wire connectingcorresponding parts of said operating levers, said Bowden wire beingoperative, when either of said operating levers is rocked in onedirection, to rock the other of said levers in the opposite direction.

5. Operating means for moving the shutter of one cinematograph machinein one direction when the shutter of another cinematograph machine ismoved in the opposite direction, said means comprising an actuatinglever for the shutter of each machine, an operating lever fulcrumedadjacent each of said shutter-actuating levers to rock on an axisparallel to that of the latter, a spring extending between each of saidoperating levers and its associated shutter actuating lever, each ofsaid springs being tensioned by the rocking movement of the operatinglever to which it is connected and acting to rock the shutter-actuatinglever associated therewith when its end connected to suchshutter-actuating lever crosses a line intersecting its ends and thefulcrum of such actuating lever, a flexible member connected at itsopposite ends to corresponding parts, respectively, of said operatinglevers, and a pair of springs connected, respectively, to the oppositeends of said flexible member and maintaining said flexible member undertension.

6. Operating means for moving the shutter of one cinematograph machinein one direction when the shutter of another cinematograph machine ismoved in the opposite direction, said means comprising an actuatinglever for the shutter of each machine, a spring connected to eachactuating lever, an operating member connected to each spring andmounted for movement to shift the spring from an angular position at oneside of the longitudinal center of the lever to an angular position atthe opposite side of said center of the lever, each of said springsbeing tensioned by the rocking movement of the operating member to whichit is connected and acting to rock the shutter actuating leverassociated therewith when its end connected to such shutter-actuatinglever crosses a line intersecting its ends and the fulcrum of suchactuating lever, and means between said operating members and operativewhen either of said operating members is rocked in one direction to rockthe other operating member in the opposite direction.

JOHN LESLIE STABLEFORD.

